The Inside Story Behind SouthComm’s Rapid-Fire Breakup

“The single hardest thing to do in business is to make a deal, whether you’re buying or selling.” Former SouthComm, Inc. COO Blair Johnson knew the magnitude of the task before him when, in November 2017, the company’s equity backer Solidus ousted CEO Chris Ferrell and indicated its desire to exit the publishing business within eight months. “At that time, Solidus had decided they wanted to liquidate their position and get out of SouthComm,” Johnson tells Folio:. “[Managing partner] Vic Gatto and the board made a decision that we needed to do it, and do it quickly, and that Chris was probably not the right person to do it. He likes to buy and build, and it’s a different strategy when you have to liquidate.” And so Solidus handed the company reins to Johnson—who took over as CEO—and CFO Bob Mahoney, and the pair immediately began the process of selling off a company that comprised alt-weeklies serving five different cities, a robust b2b media business, and hundreds of employees, among other assets. In a b2b-media space characterized by frequent mergers and acquisitions, the circumstances may have felt a bit like déjà vu all over again for Johnson, who had arrived at SouthComm from Cygnus Business Media in 2015 after four years helping transition that company from bankruptcy to breakup. “We essentially had eight different entities that we had to find a new home for,” Johnson continues. “Clearly, the biggest of these was the b2b assets from legacy Cygnus.” The relative... Continue reading at 'Folio Magazine'

[ Folio Magazine | 2018-08-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #difficult part #playing games

Other Publishing stories related to: 'The Inside Story Behind SouthComm’s Rapid-Fire Breakup'


Freedom insiders confirm bid for O.C. Register ahead of next week's auction

Bankrupt newspaper publisher Freedom Communications confirmed Friday that a group of inside investors, including developer Mike Harrah, has submitted a bid for the company's assets. That sets up a three-way competition for Freedom, the owner of the Orange County Register and Riverside... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2016-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #riverside press-enterprise


Lessons from Louise: the story of Paul Sheehan and the Sydney Morning Herald

Paul Sheehan’s story about the alleged gang rape of ‘Louise’ led, eventually, to him being suspended by Fairfax. But how has a writer so reckless survived for so long at a reputable media company? A special report by Richard Cooke for the Monthly and Guardian AustraliaThe office of the Sydney... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-03-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #paul sheehan #special report #internal investigation


J.K. Rowling reveals new story, the 'History of Magic in North America'

J .K. Rowling has some good news for fans of her "Harry Potter" universe, especially ones on this side of the Atlantic. The author's website, Pottermore, will publish a four-part story this week called "History of Magic in North America." The story will provide the background for "Fantastic... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2016-03-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #rowling reveals #harry potter #fantastic beasts


10 Best Linked Story Collections

Books by Salinger, Bradbury, and more, chosen by Amy Parker, the author of 'Beasts and Children.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-03-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Terry Pratchett short story collection coming this summer

Penguin Random House Children’s will this summer publish a second collection of short stories from Terry Pratchett. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-03-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #summer publish #short stories #terry pratchett


The Untold Story of How Magazine Media is Winning

The consumer, not the print magazine, now resides at the hub of the business model. The post The Untold Story of How Magazine Media is Winning appeared first on Folio:. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2016-03-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #untold story #magazine media #print magazine #business model


Simon & Schuster’s Salaam Reads Focuses on Muslim Characters and Stories

Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing has announced the launch of Salaam Reads, focusing on Muslim characters and stories. The post Simon & Schuster’s Salaam Reads Focuses on Muslim Characters and Stories appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-02-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #simon schuster #muslim characters #salaam reads


Native Ads at a Mecca for Millennials: Wattpad’s ‘Brand Stories’

Native advertising is paying off for writers of the coveted, mobile demographic at Wattpad. Ashleigh Gardner speaks at London Book Fair's (#LBF16) Quantum Conference (#Quantum16) in April. The post Native Ads at a Mecca for Millennials: Wattpad’s ‘Brand Stories’ appeared first on Publishing... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-02-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #native ads #native advertising


Inside Axel Springer’s answer to Facebook’s Instant Articles

Upday has launched as part of the partnership between Samsung and Axel Springer. The news aggregator platform will be pre-installed on Samsung devices, who chose to host Upday because it mixes human and algorithm curation. CEO and former Axel Springer executive vice president Peter Würtenberger... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2016-02-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #axel springer #share revenue #rss feed


Halahmy World War Two pet story to Alma

Independent publisher Alma Books has signed a middle-grade story about what happened to all the pets in World War Two by Miriam Halahmy. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-02-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #world war #miriam halahmy


Short story collection smuggled out of North Korea sparks global interest

Dissident tales from pseudonymous author Bandi, still living in the country, are very rare fiction to emerge from the secretive dictatorshipA collection of short stories written under a pseudonym and smuggled out of North Korea is on its way to becoming an international literary sensation, with... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-02-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #barbara zitwer #north korea #literary agent


The Story Of Mark Zuckerberg's TheFacebook.com, As Told By The Harvard Crimson In 2004

Profiling an Internet phenomenon and its quirky creator, a few months into its existence.Facebook turned 12 today. It's been part of everyday life for long enough that an infinite number of articles have been published about its phenomenal success and the vision of its inventor and CEO, Mark... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2016-02-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #mark zuckerberg #internet phenomenon #everyday life #phenomenal success


Sourcebooks’ ‘Put Me In the Story’: B&N Puts It In the Stores

Dominique Raccah's popular Put Me In the Story line of personalized kids' books from Sourcebooks is picked up by Barnes & Noble. The post Sourcebooks’ ‘Put Me In the Story’: B&N Puts It In the Stores appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-02-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #story line #post sourcebooks #bn puts #dominique raccah #barnes noble


Facebook's latest News Feed overhaul puts stories you want to see at the top

Facebook knows everything about you, from who your friends and family are to what you like and where you’ve been. It even knows the posts you draft but never publish. Combine all that information with the power of the like button, which signals to Facebook that a post should be shared more... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2016-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Kitty-in-Boots: New Beatrix Potter story starring Peter Rabbit found

A story by much-loved children's author Beatrix Potter, written more than a century ago, is to be published for the first time after the rediscovery of the tale which features some of her best-known characters, including Peter Rabbit. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2016-01-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #much-loved children #century ago


Inside 2015’s Category Bestsellers

Hollywood, perennial bestsellers, and publishing powerhouses were the engines behind the 2015 bestsellers in many categories on the adult fiction and nonfiction sides, with several of PW’s category bestseller lists looking a lot like greatest-hits compilations. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-01-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #adult fiction


Beatrix Potter: Newly-found story by 'Peter Rabbit' author will be released this fall

A story by Potter titled 'The Tale of Kitty-in-Boots' was recently found and will be released by Penguin Random House in September. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2016-01-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #beatrix potter #peter rabbit #recently found


Lost Beatrix Potter story becomes bestseller months ahead of publication

The Tale of Kitty-in-Boots, which remained unseen for a century, is already a bestseller – eight months before it reaches shopsBeatrix Potter’s long-lost story about “a well-behaved prime black Kitty cat, who leads rather a double life” has shot to the top of Amazon’s book charts months ahead of... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-01-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #double life #beloved characters #peter rabbit #frederick warne


PRH to publish 'lost' Beatrix Potter story

Frederick Warne & Co, an imprint of Penguin Random House Children’s, will this September release a previously unpublished children’s story by Beatrix Potter, with new illustrations by Quentin Blake. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-01-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #frederick warne #september release #beatrix potter #quentin blake


Apple Fires Back at DoJ

In a reply brief filed on January 15, Apple attorneys reiterated its argument that the Supreme Court should review their ebook price-fixing case. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-01-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #supreme court